Stratospheric Trumpeter Looks Forward To New Leading Career
By John Tynan learned to play with small groups. Re lieve me, that meant a lot.” DUBBED “SHOW BO AT ER,” IN FEBRUARY, 1954, Ferguson "crowd pleaser,” and “exhibitionist” signed a contract with Paramount stu for .veal's, Maynard Ferguson, one of dios. For two years he was top brass tht most talked-about trumpet players man in the studio orchestra, playing of his generation, is today crashing everything that such a berth calls the barrier of those accusations and for—from quasi-symphonic background finding himself on the threshold of a mood music to jazz sequences in sound new era in his professional career. stage night clubs. “No doubt of it,” he Because of Ferguson’s phenomenal judges, “that period made me a better technique and the manner in which he musician.” w*as showcased in the bands of Stan The onetime stratospheric boy won Kenton, Boyd Raeburn, Charlie Bai- der of the trumpet exudes confidence net, and Jimmy Dorsey, it was under now about his ability to make it as a standable, he says, that the critics jazz blower. At this point in his career should have set him up as an ideal he’s at last satisfied that he’s ready, target, representative of what jazz in not only to play a whole lot of jazz but big bands “had come to,” to lead the band of his choice. But Ferguson was no innocent, no This band is an all-star unit, not only The result? "This is going to be a happy* band,” he declares. “There will babe in the musical woods led astray instrumentally but in arrangements, by commercially minded bandleaders too. With such swinging scorers as be no hates going. Everybody digs the intent on exploiting those pyrotechnics Johnny Mandel, Quincy Jones, and Al others, and this is just what we want.” with which he is so facile. Cohn, the book looks like a jazzman’s The trumpeter currently is cutting “I KNEW WHAT the score was dream. And for Ferguson it is a dream the Vik albums. “I think a lot of peo then,” he says. “Then, as now, I felt —come true. ple, especially in the east, are going to and said that I helped Kenton, Barnet, be surprised,” he says. “After all, they THE PRIME MOVER in converting haven’t heard me blow in New York in and Dorsey just as much as they Maynard’s desire to front such a baud heljied me. over three years. Here’s hoping they into happy* reality was drummer Sid dig me now.” "I w*as used for one particular thing Bulkin who, while not working with NOT ONLY SHOULD the easterners —to gas the crowd. I w*as the Wonder the new all-star outfit, is a much re dig the “new” Ferguson on trumpet, Boy, the hat-trick the leader could pull spected percussionist known foi his to show just how great his band was. accompanist work with Billy Eckstine, but they* cannot fail to mark his work, both in section and solo, on valve trom Please don’t misundeistand, though; among others. any leader will capitalize on a thing The idea breathed life some months bone and bass trumpet also. All in all, like this. He’d be a fool if he didn’t. ago when Bulkin was in New York he is wailing on the three horns, carry "Stan Kenton was really* the first to ing the load of the book’s solos. and dropped in on discussions between As to plans for this stellar aggre realize what I could do technically on Morris Levy, operator of Birdland, a horn,” he continued, “Because he’s and Vik Records’ a&i head, Jack Lewis. gation, Bulkin says they are looking for a “class” tour like the Birdland such a natural, such a great leader, Levy and Lewis were looking for some conceit tours with Count Basie. If he saw my capabilities in perspective one to front a veritable "dream band” and acted accordingly*. I could cut the those sidemen who work with the band and seemed to be getting nowhere in in New* York cannot make out-of-tow*n super-high book without an oxygen their quest. mask. So I became typed and I ac “Why not get Maynard?” Bulkin of engagements, new talent will be sought, young, aspiring jazzmen who can cut cepted it. If you think I’m going to fered. Levy* and Lewis were interested. the book and be available for such a a lot of refute a lot of criticisms thrown at me Once they arrived at the stage of tour. rge Rou- during that big band period, you’re serious consideration, the problem was rote the wrong. The majority of the critics solved. Ferguson says he is particularly in on our were correct. I realized it then and The leader for this band would have terested in suitable potential talent in the colleges and is amenable to any us, and haven’t forgotten it today. to be a musician with natural qualities I also for fronting, respected on many counts and all auditions of youngsters who “THERE WAS ONLY one occasion want to try to make the band. Since hings. I by* his peers. It didn’t take Sid long to when a critic went to work on me that he’s been in New York, he notes, he’s d Jimmy convince the other two that Ferguson I got bugged. It doesn’t matter who he met several young blowers who would us. We was—he’s very well known in the field would be the man. ■nts, too. probably fit right into the swing of —or what specifically he said then. The THERE WAS A hitch though. Part things. Jimmy thing that irked me was the manner of the plan was for Vik to record this in which he attacked me. It was per ideal band, and, inasmuch as Maynard Vayne a sonal and, I considered, pretty spiteful. >r a few is under contract to EmArcy, that alifornia But that’s past history ... I hope we’ve could lead to problems. As soon as Tour By Helen Merrill both learned a lot.” ich. EmArcy’s Bobby Shad was approached I think What has Ferguson learned in the for a temporary release for Ferguson, intervening years? For one thing, he’s Heads To South America sounds I however, the worries were over. Shad av come learned his horn. gave Ferguson permission to make the New York—Helen Merrill’s European is, Bud “Up to two years ago, I was still Vik albums with his blessings. tour, announced in the Sept. 5 Down sta, J im learning,” he says. “I don’t mean the There followed a fantastic flurry of Beat, has been postponed, for the sing ar Petti- mechanics of the trumpet so much as transcontinental phone calls between er has been selected to inaugurate a aturally, the meaning of what it is to play jazz. Ferguson in Hollywood and all the series of visits by North American like, but “After I split the big band scene and sidemen he wanted to use. vocal stars to Argentina and Brazil. came to settled in California, I worked with He had, for example, an open line Helen, w*ho was selected by El Globo, , and 1 small groups up and down the west to Al Cohn who helped line up the othei a Buenos Aires newspaper, as the best at Bird- coast. This gave me a chance, for the chosen musicians. So there would be new singer of the year, has been set r Fresh- first time, to get in a groove where I no misunderstandings, Maynard person for a three-week tour next month, lined 1 Sarah could blow jazz more comfortably than ally spoke with every person he wanted up in co-operation with Mercury* Rec I’d ever done. For the first time I in the band. ords’ affiliates in Latin America. wn Beat October 3, 1956 13